Areas in Berkshire: Crowthorne, Sandhurst, Bracknell

[Mickalmouse]

We are relocating back to the UK from overseas and looking to buy in Berkshire to be near job and family. I don’t know anything about the areas but they all seem nice. Would prefer to be somewhere more villagey with access to countryside and space but will have one in primary and one in secondary so schools are important. Does anyone know the area? Any advice on where to look t research ‘nice’ areas? I’ve been out of the uk for a long time so feel very out of touch. Thank you.

I live in Wokingham. More market town than village, but has good schools, a newly regenerated town centre and good green spaces. Good transport links to Reading and London. I really like it, have been here over 20 years and it’s been great for my children as well.
Bracknell is a new town. Lots of new builds. Also regenerated town centre which is much improved but definitely not villagey.
Crowthorne is the most villagey. Good schools. As long as Broadmoor doesn’t bother you! Sandhurst has a big M&S and Tesco and Next. Not villagey at all. Little sandhurst is nice.
Twyford is a good choice, good schools, not too big, fast train to London (will be on Crossrail). Warfield mostly new build but some of it is very green.
Hurst…proper Berkshire village, more pricey. Good primary, think you’d have to go to Twyford or Woodley for secondary. I also like Woodley, 50s suburb of Reading, good value for money, houses on big plots but possibly a bit suburban?

Not Bracknell or Sandhurst from what you've said you're looking for, nor Camberley for that matter. Wokingham is nice, Crowthorne is ok but a bit geriatric. If you want naice and villagey, maybe think Farnham way - Crookham, Hartley Wintney, Hook etc.

Thanks @Itsrainingatlast, that's really helpful. I grew up on the outskirts of a market town and was the best of both worlds so perhaps that would be better than village, village - I am also worried about how we meet people, kids make friends etc in a super small village. They are building new Redrow estate at Orchids Place - do you know anything about this neighbourhood/development?
TIA

Thanks @ChairOfInvisibleStudies, that's really helpful. I want to stay more south than Reading, under 20 mins drive to Crowthorne but these villages look lovely. Will keep researching.

A lot of the villages in that area south of the M4, north of the M3 and east of the A33 are lovely and would certainly tick a number of your boxes, but I'm not sure what the schools situation would be. If you're happy to go more market town though then Wokingham is definitely a good bet.

If you did end up straying into Hampshire it's worth bearing in mind that many (most?) secondaries in that area don't have sixth forms, with students moving to one of the colleges for post-16 education. That may be considered an advantage or a disadvantage depending on each child and family circumstance!

Orchids Place is part of Warfield; it’s a huge new build estate on the edge of Bracknell. Has a primary but you would need to get to Bracknell for secondary. Redrow homes are nice though; have a lovely 1930s arts and crafts aesthetic.
Redrow are also building at Arborfield Green which might tick your boxes, it’s a new build village community (build on an old army garrison), has a new primary and secondary and is equidistant to Wokingham, Crowthorne and Reading.
Or Binfield has a bit of a villagey feel, mix of new builds and period properties. New all through school, in between Bracknell and Wokingham.

I'd have a look at Finchampstead, I know of a few families who really like it there.

Hi @MrsJamin thanks for the information. I’d love to hear more about Finchampstead, especially about schools. There seem to be none that close so wondering how kids get to secondary? Any advice?